Tea Party Quiz

In 2009, conservatives around the country began donning colonial costumes, printing copies of the U.S. Constitution and protesting like it was 1773. The Tea Party movement symbolically hearkened back to pre-American Revolution days when colonists were getting fed up with the British government levying unfair taxes against them and began pushing back against their overseas rulers. Centuries later, an economic recession and the election of President Barack Obama riled up bands of conservative activists who decided to exercise their constitutional rights and speak out against the powers that be. How well do you know one of the most successful and controversial grassroots political movements in modern American history? Find out with the Tea Party quiz from HowStuffWorks.com.

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Question 1 of 20

What year did the Tea Party hold its first national event?

2007

2008

2009

On April 15, 2009, the newly formed Tea Party organized a national day of "Tax Day" protests with rallies held around the United States.

Question 2 of 20

In what city did the first Tea Party-like protest take place?

Washington, D.C.

Seattle

On Feb. 16, 2009, before the Tea Party had mushroomed into a national movement, teacher Keli Carender organized the first Tea Party-like protest in Seattle, Wash., to protest the Obama administration's economic stimulus plan.

Oklahoma City

Question 3 of 20

True or false: Early Tea Party supporters mailed tea bags to their congressional representatives.

true

One of the first events that sparked the Tea Party movement occurred in January 2009 when stock trader Graham Makohoniuk fired off, “Mail a Tea Bag to Congress & Senate” on the Market Ticker Forums. The post went viral, and sure enough, supporters began mailing tea bags to their Congressional representatives.

false

Question 4 of 20

How many colonists participated in the 1773 Boston Tea Party?

15

150

On the night of Dec. 16, 1773, about 150 American colonists boarded a trio of ships in the Boston Harbor and hoisted hundreds of tea-stocked chests into the surrounding water to protest the British government levying excessive taxes on them.

1500

Question 5 of 20

Which national issue ignited the Tea Party movement?

economy

Jan. 21, 2008, marked the beginning of the economic recession in the United States, which inspired conservative activists to protest the government's plans to rescue private banks, insurance companies and other businesses with federal funding.

healthcare

taxation

Question 6 of 20

In addition to "no taxation without representation," which of the following is another popular Tea Party slogan?

Give me liberty or give me death.

Don't tread on me.

Tea Party protestors have been known to wave flags bearing the slogan "Don't tread on me" emblazoned around a rattlesnake. They borrowed the American Revolution war cry to reflect the group’s opposition to government intervention.

I have not yet begun to fight.

Question 7 of 20

Which of the following is a false statement about the Tea Party?

It's a political third party.

The original intent of the Tea Party wasn’t to form a viable political third party but to vet candidates and causes and provide national exposure to their elections. A majority of Tea Party supporters identify as Republicans.

Some supporters don't believe President Obama was born in the United States.

Statistically, supporters are better educated that the average American.

Question 8 of 20

Which female politician became an original Tea Party leader?

Christine O'Donnell

Sarah Palin

Former vice presidential candidate and Alaska governor Sarah Palin became a de facto Tea Party leader in its early days, traveling the country on the Tea Party Express bus and headlining its first national convention in Nashville, Tenn.

Michele Bachmann

Question 9 of 20

Which of the following doesn't describe the average Tea Party activist?

white

male

40 years old

Polls have found that a majority of Tea Party activists are white males, but the age demographic skews over 45 years old.

Question 10 of 20

According to a 2010 poll, Tea Party activists' top complaint against the government was what?

healthcare reform

bank bailouts

personal dislike of Barack Obama

In a poll commissioned by CBS News and the New York Times, Tea Party supporters cited a basic dislike of President Barack Obama as their top reason for getting involved with the grassroots protest movement.

Question 11 of 20

In 2009, the Tea Party attracted criticism after a supporter referred to the Obama administration's healthcare reform plan as what?

Death by socialism

Nazi policy

At a public hearing on healthcare in August 2009, a Tea Party supporter referred to the healthcare reform legislation as President Obama's "Nazi policy."

Stalincare

Question 12 of 20

The Tea Party supports the libertarian hero and Texas Rep. Ron Paul's political platforms, except for his stance on what?

defunding the federal government

support for gun ownership

withdrawal of military troops from foreign outposts

Rep. Ron Paul has been a Tea Party favorite since his libertarian ideals largely align with the movement's stances, except for his call for international troop withdrawal. The Tea Party is far more pro-military than the Libertarian Party.

Question 13 of 20

What percent of Tea Party supporters agree that global warming exists?

15 percent

30 percent

Global warming isn't a popular topic within the Tea Party. A September 2011 poll from the Public Religion Research Institute found that roughly a third of the conservative activists agree that it even exists.

60 percent

Question 14 of 20

What political commentator was instrumental in the spreading the anti-President Obama gospel of the Tea Party?

Glenn Beck

Former Fox News host Glenn Beck became an early Tea Party icon and attracted controversy for his extreme political conservatism and anti-Obama administration remarks. He organized one of the first major Tea Party rallies, the "9/12" anti-tax protest in Washington, D.C.

Mike Huckabee

Rush Limbaugh

Question 15 of 20

Which of the following issues has angered Tea Party protestors the most?

government spending

economic stimulus

healthcare reform

The Tea Party has organized its protests around all three of these issues, but according to an April 2010 poll commissioned by CBS News and the New York Times, healthcare reform tops the list of activists' grievances.

Question 16 of 20

Out of the 51 Tea Party-backed candidates running during the 2010 congressional primaries, how many won?

11

24

The 2010 midterm congressional election was a watershed moment for the Tea Party since the grassroots activists helped 24 out of 51 of their candidates win their primaries. Those victories clearly demonstrated the movement's transition from a collective of partisan protest groups to a bona fide political powerhouse.

51

Question 17 of 20

As of April 2011, what percent of Americans held an unfavorable view of the Tea Party?

27 percent

47 percent

In just over a year, Tea Party criticism spiked as its platforms became better known. According to an April 2011 Gallup poll, 47 percent of American adults aren't fans of the movement.

67 percent

Question 18 of 20

In 2009, Tea Party activism was largely responsible for the election of what state's first Republican senator in 30 years?

California

Massachusetts

The Economist magazine named the Tea Party “America’s most vibrant political force,” partially due to its 2009 success with helping elect Scott Brown, Massachusetts’ first Republican senator in 30 years.

New Hampshire

Question 19 of 20

Core Tea Party supporters likely comprise what percent of American voters?

5 percent

Although around 20 percent of American adults express support for the Tea Party movement, the core activists make up only around 5 percent of the electorate.

15 percent

25 percent

Question 20 of 20

Which of the following groups has the most negative reputation among the American public?

Tea Party

In a striking example of the controversy the Tea Party has attracted, an April 2011 poll commissioned by CBS News and the New York Times suggested that the Tea Party has the worst reputation among a host of polarizing demographic groups.